As October 9, the scheduled day for the forthcoming Local Government elections in Plateau State draws closer, tension continues to mount with increasing opposition to the conduct of the election in some places regarded as troubled areas in the State.
Residents of the State on Thursday woke up to an early morning deployments of police and other security personnel to critical areas such as Bukuru, Terminus Area, Hill Station junction, Gada Biyu, and Bauchi Road in Jo’s metropolis following reports of their vulnerability to violence and breakdown of law and order.
Anti-riot police tank was also sighted under the Secretariat Junction fly-over bridge.
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Different groups and ethnic Nationalities have within the week raised alarm over alleged plans by some persons to cause mayhem during the elections.
Others insist that the elections should not be conducted in any Local governments that is facing security challenges to avoid another round of crisis.
The Association of Ethnic Nationalities and Communities, Anaguta, Afizere, Berom, Hausa, Irigwe, Igbo, Yoruba, Central and Southern zones had last week raised alarm over alleged plans to cause chaos during the election.
The Youth and Women wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and a group under the aegis of “Concerned Elders of Plateau”, have all within the week also called on the state government not to go ahead with the elections as scheduled, noting that the security situation especially in Jos North, Bassa, Jos and Jos South suggest that all is not well.
As at the time of filing this report, there was an uneasy calm in most part of the metropolise in anticipation of the elections while security personnel are still positioned in some strategic locations within the Jos/Bukuru Metropolis.
Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
